47th Air Division (United States)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 47th Air Division | |
|---|---|
 Official crest of the 47th Air Division |
|
| Active | 19 October 1940–31 August 1941 30 May 1942–15 October 1945 1 February 1951–27 February 1987 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | see "Stations" section below |
| Equipment | see "Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles" section below |
| Decorations | see "Lineage and honors" section below |
Contents |
[edit] History
After activation, the 7th Pursuit Wing concentrated on training three pursuit groups and in participating in field maneuvers. It completed training in the United States as a fighter wing and moved to North Africa in November 1942. Although earmarked for Eighth Air Force, it served instead with the Twelfth, and later, Fifteenth Air Forces, first as a fighter wing, then as a medium bomb wing, and finally as a heavy bomb wing. In the 1942 to early 1943 period, many of its assigned components did not actually operate under wing control, while other components were temporarily attached. Its components supported the bombing of Pantelleria Island and the invasions of Sicily, Italy, and southern France in 1943 through 1944. Wing aircraft also flew missions to the Balkans, Austria, France, and Germany, with the Rumanian oil fields as primary targets from April through August 1944. The final mission on 25 April 1945 struck marshalling yards at Linz, Austria. It returned to the United States in May 1945 to prepare for bombardment operations in the Pacific as a very heavy bombardment wing. On 7 September 1945, the wing became a paper unit and in mid October inactivated at Sioux City, Iowa. Redesignated as an Air Division, the 47th served as an intermediate echelon between Strategic Air Command's Eighth Air Force and operational units in the field. From April 1955 to March 1970, it filled the same role for the Fifteenth Air Force and from March 1970 to July 1971, for the Second Air Force. In July 1971 the 47th returned to Fifteenth Air Force control where it continued to supervise subordinate unit training and other activities. The May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in the state of Washington seriously affected division operations; aircraft were dispersed to various bases while around the clock shifts removed the volcanic ash.
[edit] Background of name
 |
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Mission
|
|
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Operations
|
|
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Lineage and honors
Established as 7 Pursuit Wing on 19 October 1940. Activated on 18 December 1940. Inactivated on 31 August 1941.
Redesignated 7 Fighter Wing on 30 May 1942. Activated on 7 June 1942. Redesignated: 47 Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 23 February 1943; 47 Bombardment Wing, Medium on 20 August 1943; 47 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 9 April 1945; 47 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 23 May 1945. Inactivated on 15 October 1945.
Redesignated 47 Air Division on 1 February 1951. Organized on 10 February 1951. Discontinued on 16 June 1952.
Activated on 16 June 1952. Redesignated: 47 Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 May 1962; 47 Air Division on 1 July 1963. Inactivated on 27 February 1987.
[edit] Service streamers
This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:
- World War II: European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater.
[edit] Emblem
On a shield sable, an atomic cloud proper (shades of red, orange and yellow) rising from base to chief, surmounted by a bend argent charged with a sword proper (blade silver, hilt and pommel gold), the blade entwined with a branch of olive vert. (Approved 6 September 1956)
[edit] Assignments
GHQ Air Force (apparently further assigned to Northeast Air District [later, First Air Force], 16 January 1941; 1st Interceptor Command, 5 June 1941–31 August 1941), 18 December 1940–31 August 1941.
Eighth Air Force, 7 June 1942 (attached to First Air Force, 7 June 1942); XII Ground Air (later, XII Air) Support Command, 27 September 1942 (remained attached to First Air Force to c.17 October 1942; attached to Task Force A, c.17 October 1942–c.8 November 1942; attached to Moroccan Composite Wing [Provisional], 31 December 1942–6 January 1943); XII Bomber Command, 7 January 1943; Northwest African Strategic Air Force, 18 February 1943; XII Bomber Command, 1 September 1943; Fifteenth Air Force, 1 November 1943–15 May 1945; Army Service Forces, 16 May 1945–25 May 1945; Second Air Force, 26 May 1945–15 October 1945.
Eighth Air Force, 10 February 1951–16 June 1952.
Eighth Air Force, 16 June 1952; Fifteenth Air Force, 1 April 1955; Second Air Force, 31 March 1970; Fifteenth Air Force, 1 July 1971–27 February 1987.
[edit] Components
Wings:
- 5 Bombardment: 30 June 1971–30 November 1972; 15 January 1973–22 January 1975.
- 6 Bombardment (later, 6 Strategic Aerospace; 6 Strategic): 10 February 1951–16 June 1952. 16 June 1952–1 July 1963 (detached 31 October 1955–26 January 1956); 1 October 1976–1 October 1985.
- 22 Bombardment: 1 January 1962–31 March 1970; 30 June 1971–1 August 1972; 1 October 1985–23 January 1987.
- 28 Bombardment: 30 June 1971–15 January 1973.
- 91 Strategic Missile: 15 January 1973–22 January 1975.
- 92 Strategic Aerospace (later, 92 Bombardment): 30 June 1971–23 January 1987.
- 93 Bombardment: 1 July 1959–30 June 1971.
- 319 Bombardment: 30 June 1971–15 January 1973.
- 320 Bombardment: 2 July 1966–31 March 1970; 30 June 1971–1 October 1972; 1 October 1982–23 January 1987.
- 341 Strategic Missile: 15 January 1973–23 January 1987.
- 456 Strategic Aerospace (later, 456 Bombardment): 30 June 1971–1 October 1972.
- 509 Bombardment: 10 February 1951–16 June 1952 (detached 1 March 1951–c.6 May 1951, 4 June 1952–16 June 1952); 16 June 1952–1 July 1958 (detached 16 June 1952–2 September 1952, 10 July 1954–9 October 1954, and 26 January 1956–30 April 1956).
- 4128 Strategic: 5 January 1959–1 July 1959.
Groups:
- 1 Fighter: 18 February 1943–c. May 1943 (detached entire period).
- 8 Pursuit: 16 January 1941–31 August 1941.
- 14 Fighter: 18 February 1943–14 March 1943.
- 17 Bombardment: attached c.31 December 1942–17 February 1943, assigned 18 February 1943–7 June 1943.
- 33 Pursuit (later, 33 Fighter): 16 January 1941–31 August 1941; 27 September 1942–6 December 1942; 3 March 1943–14 March 1943.
- 57 Pursuit: 16 January 1941–31 August 1941.
- 68 Tactical Reconnaissance: attached 4 December 1943–31 December 1943, assigned 1 January 1944–c. June 1944 (not operational, 27 May 1944–June 1944).
- 81 Fighter: 27 September 1942–5 January 1943 (detached c. November 1942–5 January 1943).
- 82 Fighter: c. November 1942–c.31 December 1942; attached 1 February 1943–17 February 1943, assigned 18 February 1943–13 January 1944.
- 98 Bombardment: 24 September 1943–1 November 1943; 17 November 1943–19 April 1945.
- 310 Bombardment: 18 February 1943–3 November 1943.
- 319 Bombardment: attached c. February 1943–unknown, assigned c.1 June 1943–7 June 1943.
- 320 Bombardment: 18 February 1943–7 June 1943.
- 321 Bombardment: 27 March 1943–3 November 1943.
- 325 Fighter: 27 March 1943–7 June 1943.
- 350 Fighter: 31 December 1942–5 January 1943.
- 376 Bombardment: 24 September 1943–1 November 1943; 17 November 1943–19 April 1945.
- 449 Bombardment: 11 December 1943–15 May 1945.
- 450 Bombardment: 11 December 1943–15 May 1945.
- 451 Bombardment: 11 December 1943–7 April 1944.
Squadrons:
- 11 Air Refueling: 31 March 1970–30 June 1971.
- 15 Bombardment: attached c. January 1943–10 February 1943.
- 81 Bombardment: attached 2 February 1943–25 March 1943.
- 82 Bombardment: attached 2 February 1943–25 March 1943.
- 91 Air Refueling: 1 July 1971–1 April 1972.
- 95 Fighter: attached 31 December 1942–5 January 1943.
- 307 Air Refueling: attached 1 August 1951–2 February 1953 (further attached to 6 Bombardment Wing, 1 August 1951–15 June 1952).
- 916 Air Refueling: 31 March 1970–1 April 1972.
[edit] Stations
Mitchel Field (later, Mitchel Air Force Base), New York, 18 December 1940–31 August 1941.
Harrisburg Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, 7 June 1942; Langley Field (later, Langley Air Force Base), Virginia, 17 October 1942–24 October 1942; Casablanca, French Morocco, 11 November 1942; Chateaudun, Algeria, 11 January 1943; El Guerrah, Algeria, 1 March 1943; Souk el Arba, Tunisia, 8 June 1943; Hammamet, Tunisia, 7 August 1943; Manduria, Italy, 1 October 1943 (advance echelon) and 11 November 1943–15 May 1945 (main body); Sioux Falls Army Air Field (later, Sioux Falls Regional Airport), South Dakota, 29 May 1945; Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa, 10 July 1945–15 October 1945.
Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico, 10 February 1951–16 June 1952.
Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico, 16 June 1952; Castle Air Force Base (later, Castle Airport), California, 11 July 1959; Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 30 June 1971–27 February 1987.
[edit] Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles
P-39 Airacobra, 1941; P-40 Warhawk, 1941.
B-26 Marauder, 1942–1943; P-38 Lightning, 1942–1944; P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1944; A-20 Havoc, 1943–1944; A-36 Apache, 1943–1944; B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1944; B-24 Liberator, 1943–1945; B-25 Mitchell, 1943; P-39 Airacobra, 1943–1944; P-51 Mustang, 1943–1944.
B-29 Superfortress, 1951–1952; B-50 Superfortress, 1951–1952; KB-29 Superfortress, 1951–1952.
B-29 Superfortress, 1952; Convair B-36|B-36 Peacemaker]], 1952–1957; B-50 Superfortress, 1952–1955; KB-29 Superfortress, 1952–1954; KC-97 Stratotanker, 1954–1958, 1962; B-47 Stratojet, 1955–1958, 1962–1963; B-52 Stratofortress, 1957–1987; KC-135 Stratotanker, 1958–1987; Atlas (CGM-16), 1962–1963; EC-135, 1963–1973; Minuteman-II (LGM-30F), 1973–1987; Minuteman-III (LGM-30G), 1973–1987; RC-135, 1976–1987; KC-10 Extender, 1985–1987.
[edit] Commanders
None (not manned), 18 December 1940–15 January 1941; Brigadier General John C. McDonnell, 16 January 1941–9 April 1941; Unknown, 10 April 1941–c. May 1941; Major Frederic H. Smith, Jr., c. May 1941; Lieutenant Colonel Edward M. Morris, unknown–c. 1941.
Major Eugene M. Berglund, 7 June 1942; Colonel John C. Crosthwaite, 14 September 1942; Brigadier General Carlyle H. Ridenour, 14 January 1943; Brigadier General Joseph H. Atkinson, 25 February 1944; Brigadier General Hugo P. Rush, 5 March 1944; Colonel George H. Blase, 1 May 1945; Lieutenant Colonel Robert V. Brown, 26 May 1945; Brigadier General Hugo P. Rush, 4 June 1945–6 September 1945; none (not manned), 7 September 1945–15 October 1945.
Brigadier General Hunter Harris, Jr., 10 February 1951; Colonel William H. Blanchard, 15 January 1952; Brigadier General Thomas C. Musgrave Jr., 7 April 1952–16 June 1952.
Brigadier General Thomas C. Musgrave Jr., 16 June 1952; Brigadier General William H. Blanchard, 12 February 1953; Brigadier General Thomas C. Musgrave Jr., 29 May 1953; Colonel William K. Martin, by 31 May 1954; Brigadier General Charles W. Schott, 7 June 1954; Brigadier General Glenn W. Martin, 21 September 1956; Colonel James V. Reardon, 15 July 1957; Colonel Clifford F. Macomber, 17 July 1957; Brigadier General William C. Kingsbury, 1 August 1957; Colonel Clifford F. Macomber, 17 October 1957; Brigadier General William C. Kingsbury, 26 November 1957; Colonel Everett W. Best, 8 August 1958; Major General William C. Kingsbury, 19 September 1958; Brigadier General William R. Yancey, 3 July 1961–2 February 1965; Unknown, 3 February 1965–7 February 1965; Brigadier General William B. Kyes, 8 February 1965; Brigadier General James F. Kirkendall, 1 July 1966; Colonel Charles Abbuhl Jr., 2 December 1966; Brigadier General John A. DesPortes, 12 December 1966; Brigadier General Alex W. Talmant, 1 August 1968; Colonel Colin C. Hamilton Jr., 1 December 1970; Brigadier General Charles I. Bennett Jr., 24 February 1971; Brigadier General Alan C. Edmunds, 30 June 1971; Brigadier General Donald E. Stout, 1 September 1972; Brigadier General Thomas M. Ryan Jr., 28 June 1973; Colonel Raymond J. Bryan, 17 January 1971; Brigadier General Martin C. Fulcher, 1 February 1974; Colonel Rex L. Poutre, 10 February 1975; Brigadier General Eugene D. Scott, 16 February 1975; Colonel Philip A. Brennan, 16 July 1976; Major General David L. Gray, 28 July 1976; Brigadier General Irving B. Reed, 14 November 1977; Brigadier General John A. Shaud, 16 June 1980; Brigadier General Regis F. A. Urschler, 10 August 1980; Brigadier General Robert L. Kirtley, 7 May 1982; Brigadier General W. John Soper, 20 July 1984; Colonel Kenneth A. Anderson, c. September 1986–unknown.
